Israel rejects US-backed Gaza, disarmament plan

Israel did not agree to the US-backed plan for Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, even after receiving assurances that an Israeli pullout would only happen after Hamas disarms.

The Palestinian group, meanwhile, reiterated its commitment to the roadmap published by US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace last week, which includes provisions for the group to hand over its weapons and an Israeli withdrawal.

In a video posted to his social media accounts on Tuesday night, Netanyahu said Trump's team "believes that they can bring about the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarisation of Gaza".

"We are checking this. They sent us a draft - we did not agree to it, it is not our draft. We sent our comments," he said.

Israel's military chief on Wednesday said the country's forces would continue to "operate proactively" in the Palestinian territory despite Hamas's disarmament pledge.

"In the Gaza Strip, we have struck Hamas, significantly weakened it, and fundamentally changed the security reality," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said while visiting troops in Gaza, according to a military statement.

"The IDF will continue to operate proactively and according to the principle we established - to remove threats and, in every situation, protect the communities and their residents and safeguard their security."

Israel has ignored the terms of the October ceasefire and continued almost daily attacks in Gaza, killing at least 1,254 people.

After Israel voiced objections to the initial roadmap, the Board of Peace met Netanyahu on Monday, assuring him that the Israeli military would only be required to leave its current positions in Gaza after Hamas's "complete" disarmament.

But pressure has been growing on the premier from the right flank of his ruling coalition, with two far-right ministers requesting a new vote to reject the plan, saying it did not reflect what the cabinet approved.

'No other option'

With Israel and Netanyahu looking increasingly isolated on the world stage, the country has little chance of tearing up the US-sponsored plan, according to Tal Elovits, a researcher at Israeli think tank Molad.

"Netanyahu has no other option besides listening to his only friend left in the diplomatic community," he said, referring to Trump.

Speaking at an event Wednesday, Netanyahu, who faces a tough re-election fight in October, said Trump "is our greatest friend, one of the greatest friends we have had in the White House".

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem on Wednesday reiterated the group's "commitment to what was agreed upon with the mediators and the Board of Peace".

The group called on Washington and Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, to pressure Israel "to abide by the agreement, so that we can see serious and practical steps taken".

Israeli media reported that troops had been instructed to seek authorisation from the army chief for strikes in Gaza, unless they are in "immediate danger" - a change of policy from previous directives, under which attacks only required approval from the head of the regional command.

Israel's military, when questioned, referred AFP to the "political echelon" for a response.

A spokesperson for Netanyahu declined to comment.

(AFP and TNA staff)